Lantern with signal lamp



1963 J. D. SMALTZ LANTERN WITH SIGNAL LAMP Filed May 2, 1960 32 45 mvmrox JOHN D, SMALT'Z JITORNEYS United States Patent 3,116,025 LANTERN WITH SIGNAL LAME John D. Smaltz, Marion, 11121., assignor to Delta Electric Company, Marion, Ind., a corporation Filed May 2, 1960, Ser. No. 26,083 6 Claims. (Cl. 24010.61)

This invention relates generally to lighting and more particularly to battery powered electric lanterns.

In the lantern art there has been a need for a con venient light-weight portable lantern having utility as a Searchlight or for other illuminating purposes and also as a signal device useful, for example, in place of flares or the like. While several attempts have been made to satisfy this need the resulting devices have been relatively complicated and expensive.

The present invention satisfies the need by providing a novel lantern of inexpensive durable construction incorporating a white light useful for illumination and also incorporating a warning or signal light having a colored lens with a flashing bulb. The warning light is aflixed to the handle of this novel lantern and the handle is adjustable between a normal lantern carrying position and an erect or raised position where it supports the warning light in a position where it can easily be observed. The handle is retained in the carrying position by a conveniently located latch of novel design. Storage of extra bulbs is accommodated in a unique way.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a dual purpose lantern of simple construction.

It is another object of this invention to provide a dual purpose lantern of inexpensive construction and having great durability.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a lantern having a convenient means for connecting a battery.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a lantern adapted to storage in a relatively small space.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a lantern which is not susceptible to corrosion from the batteries.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a lantern having a signal lamp which can be moved from a carrying position to a display position with one hand.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a lantern having provision for safe storage of extra bulbs.

Other objects, advantages and uses of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art when the description thereof is read and reference is made to the several figures of drawing in which the parts are designated by the same reference characters and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an assembly drawing of the novel lantern of this invention.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view through the handle and lamp support column illustrating the novel latch mechanism and extra bulb storage provision.

FIG. 3 shows a face view of the gasket used to store spare bulbs.

FIG. 4 is a detail partially in cross section illustrating the structure for securing the lamp support column to the column supporting plate.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a lamp unit for illuminating purposes and having a lens 13 which may be a sealed beam lamp unit which is retained to the shell 12. by the bezel 11. The lamp unit is mounted by means of a bracket 14 fastened to the shell 12 and having holes therein through which the mounting bolt 15 passes to rotatably mount the bracket to the lamp support column 19. There is a handle 16 bifurcated at one end by which it is rotatably fastened to the support column 19 by means of the bolt 15. At the end of the handle 16 opposite the pivoted end there is the signal lamp having a lens 18 which EjlhfiZS Patented Dec. 31, 1963 2 is normally made of a clear red plastic and which is connected to the handle through the lens base 17 which is fixed to the handle 16.

The handle is maintained normally in the position shown in FIG. 1 by means of a latch (not shown in FIG. 1) which is mounted by means of pin 21 to the lamp support column 19. There is a switch having an operating button 22 mounted in a convenient and accessible position on the support column 19 and which may be duplicated by a similar switch 25 on the opposite side of the support column as shown in FIG. 4. One of the two switches is normally used to operate the illuminating lamp 19 and the other is normally used to operate the signal lamp. The signal lamp bulb used is normally a bulb of a flasher type. The handle 16 may be raised by releasing the latch operated by the latch release lever 20 so that the signal lamp can be displayed in the position shown by the dotted lines designated by reference character 35. The lamp support column 19 is fastened by any suitable means to a plate 24. Two convenient ways of fastening are shown in FIG. 4- where tabs 15, integral with column 1a, are spotwelded at 1541 and riveted at 15b to the underside of plate 24. A battery 25 may be mounted to the underside of plate 24 by nuts 23 screwed down on each of two battery terminals. A detailed example of such mounting is illustrated in FIG. 2 where battery 25 has a conventional upstanding threaded terminal 51. An insulator grommet 52 is received in the aperture 53 in plate 24. An electrical terminal member 54 is held in place against the grommet 52 by the hollow bushing or eyelet 56. When the thumb nut is tightened securing the battery in place as shown, the nut provides an electrical connection between terminal 51 of the battery and insulated wire 57 connected to terminal member 54-. The other battery terminal (not shown in FIG. 2) may be conveniently grounded to plate 24 by the thumb nut tightened thereto. A typical battery useful for this lamp is an Eveready 731, six volt battery. It should be understood that in another embodiment of this invention a separable battery container may be used.

Referring further to FIG. 2, there is shown a cross section of the handle and the lamp support column in which the handle is shown in the carrying position. In referring to FIG. 2, it should be understood that the latch mechanism may be symmetrical with respect to the cutting plane of the section. The handle is restrained in the carrying position by means of a lug 23 which engages the underside of the handle 16 at the point designated by reference character 29. The lug is normally an integral part of the latch 26 which has a pair of lugs 27 (only one naturally being shown in the section) through which it is attached to the column 19 by means of the pin 21. The latch is maintained in the position shown by means of the spring 31 which is fastened to the latch 26 and which bears on the inside surface of the column 19 in the area designated by reference numeral 32. The latch can be operated by the latch release lever 20* which is fixed to the latch 26 and which has an end opposite the fixed end which extends into a hole 3t in the bottom side of the handle 16. With one hand on the handle 16, holding it in carrying position, the latch release lever 26 can be moved manually toward the handle, disengaging the lug 28 from the underside of the handle 16, permitting the raising of the handle in the upward direction so that it can be positioned anywhere between the position shown by dotted lines in FIG. 2 and the position shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 2 the signal lamp unit is shown in detail to illustrate the novel provision for storage of extra bulbs. The lens 18 is fastened to the lens base 17 by means of projections 31 spaced around the inside diameter 32 of the lens base 17. The lens 18 is adapted to be retained a; by the projections 31 by means of grooves all in the lens outside diameter 43, the grooves having a cam surface and a locking notch of somewhat conventional nature. Thereis a gasket 33 which is usually made of a resilient material, such as sponge rubber, forexample. The gasket is received into the lens base and is located longitudinally withrespect to the handle by means of the shoulder 34 in the lens base 117. The gasket has a hole 36 through its center to accommodate the bushing 37 which is fastened to the lens baseli' and which serves to receive the bulb 38. The gasket has holes 39 and 41 which are sized such as to receive the base of extra bulbs, such as bulb 42, and securely hold the extra bulbs to the gasket. The gasket may serve the additional'function of providing a bias on the lens 13 to prevent rattling and also to provide a Water or dust seal, if desired.

FIG. 3 shows a face view of the gasket 33' with the holes 3,6, 3% and 41 therethrough. In order to provide storage for more than two bulbs, additional holes, similar to holes 39 and 41, may be provided in the gasket 33. The provision for extra bulb storage, as shown in FIG. 2, permits storage of extra bulbs in a clean, safe place. It makes possible convenient storage of steady burning bulbs in addition to flashing bulbs in case one would want to use the lantern for a marker, a beacon and an insect repelling lightor for some other purpose.

The novel arrangement of the handle and the support column with respect to the latch makes possible the use of one hand to raise the handle to the display position while the other hand of the user can be engaged in some other activity. The novel connection of the cover 24 to the terminal lugs of the battery make possible the quick disassembly of the battery from the lantern for purposes of battery change or to store the lantern separate from the battery. This arrangement also minimizes the possibility of damage to any part of the lantern assembly which might otherwise occur if the batteries were supported by a separate battery container. The positioning of the lens at the end of the handle avoids any possibility of the lens becoming dirty ordamaged as a result of handling and also permits the signal lamp to be displayed in a prominent position whenthe handle is raised. The latching means being concealed below the handle is in a place where it is unlikely to become clogged or dirty and inoperative, as could otherwise happen where the lamp was exposed to rain, snow or sleet, or splashing mud. The lantern is adapted to simple and inexpensive manufacturing methods and materials of construction.

While the invention has beendisclosed and described in some detail in the drawings and foregoing description, they are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, as modifications may readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art and within the broad scope of the invention, reference being bad to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

l. A lantern with signal lamp and comprising: a base having a frontal portion, a rear portion, a top and a pair of sides, said top having battery terminal post receiving holes therethrough, one of said holes having an electrically non-conductive grommet therein with an electrical conductor secured to said grommet, said electrical conductor being electrically insulated from said base by said grommet; a lamp unit support column affixed to the top of said base toward its frontal portion and having a hollow cross-section defined by a front, rear, and two sides, with a pivot bolt hole through each side of the distal end of said column; an illuminating lamp unit having a bracket thereon with pivot bolt holes therethrough; a carrying handle having a hollow cross-section defined by a top, a bottom, a left and a right side, one end thereof being bifurcated with a pivot bolt hole through each of the left and right sides at the bifurcated end, the opposite end thereof having a signal lamp unit mounted thereon; a pivot bolt for connecting said bracket, said column, and

said handle at the distal end of said column; a latch having a pair of mounting legs at one end with holes therethrough and pivotally mounted inside said column by a pin passing through said holes and supported by sides of said column, said latch eX-tendingthrough an opening in the rear of said column and through the bottom side of said handle in carrying position of said handle, said latch having a pair of handle engaging lugs at an end opposite said one end; a spring fixed to said latch and bearing upon the inside surface of thefront side of said column to urge said latch to a position where said engaging lugs engage the bottom side of said handle to restrain it in said carrying position; and a latchrelease fixedto said latch and niaintainedby said spring in a position exterior to said'handle and said column below said handle in carryingposition and to the rear of said rear side of said column and separate lamp switch buttons disposed on two opposed sides of said column.

2. The'lantern of claim 1 wherein said signal lamp unit includes resilient means adapted to receive lamp bulbs for storage.

3. The lantern of claim 1 wherein said signal lamp unit includes a lens base affixed to said handle and having lens retainer means thereon to retain a lens, a resilient-member received by said lens base and adapted to embrace lamp bulbs for storage, and a lens secured to said lens base by said lens retainer means.

4. A lantern comprising a base, a battery mounted to said base, an upright member mounted onsaid base, a lamp unit mounted to the upper end of said upright memher, a carrying member, a pivot means connecting one end of said carrying member to the upper end of said upright member, the other end of said carrying member being free of said base, a second lamp mounted to the free end of said carrying member, and a latch pivotally mounted to one of said members, said-latch including a lug projecting into engagement with a portion of the other of said members adjacent said pivot means .for normally holding said carrying member in parallel relation to said base, said latclrincluding a manually operable release lever projecting outwardly of said upright member and'said carrying member and operable to move said lug out of engagement with said other of said members to permit movement of said carrying member into an upright position.

5. A lantern comprising a base member, a battery mounted to said base member, an upright column mounted on said base member, a lamp unit pivotally mounted to the upper end of said column, a carrying handle pivotally mounted at one of its ends tothe upper end of said column, the other end of said handle being free of said base, a signal lamp mounted to the free end of said handle, and a latch pivotally mounted to said column, said latch 'including, a lug disposed with respect to said columnand said handle'so as to extend into engagement with a portion of said handle adjacent the pivoted end thereof when said handle is in parallel relation to said base for locking said handle in said parallel relation, said latch including a manually operable release lever projecting outwardly of said column and said handle and operable to move said lug out of engagement with said handle topermit movement of said handle into an upright position.

6. A lantern comprising a base member. includinga'fiat plate, a battery mounted to said plate, an upright hollow column mounted on said plate portion adjacent one end thereof, a lamp unit pivotally mounted to the upper end of said column, a hollow carrying handle pivotally mounted at one of its ends to the upper end of said column, the other end of said handle being free of said base, a signal lamp including a lamp base and a lens attached thereto mounted to the free end of said handle, and a latch pivotally mounted and housed within said column, said latch including a lug projecting within said handle into engagement with a portion of said handle adjacent the pivoted end thereof for normally holding said handle in parallel relation to said base, said latch including a manually operable release lever projecting outwardly of said column and beneath said handle and operable to move said lug out of engagement with said handle to permit movement of said handle into an upright position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,167,707 Mebold 1 Jan. 11, 1916 1,308,579 Coulson July 1, 1919 1,384,017 Haack July 5, 1921 1,491,717 Mace Apr. 22, 1924 1,559,104 Jensen Oct. 27, 1925 1,561,757 Turner Nov. 17, 1925 6 Carpenter July 13, 1926 Freund Mar. 29, 1927 Hyatt Jan. 27, 1931 Brown Mar. 14, 1933 Olds Mar. 2, 1943 Barnes Aug. 31, 1948 Buckel Feb. 21, 1950 Johnson June 6, 1950 Muldoon Jan. 1, 1952 Talbot et a1 Nov. 18, 1958 Williams Mar. 3, 1959 Cheng Nov. 8, 1960 Rhoades Sept. 11, 1962 

4. A LANTERN COMPRISING A BASE, A BATTERY MOUNTED TO SAID BASE, AN UPRIGHT MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID BASE, A LAMP UNIT MOUNTED TO THE UPPER END OF SAID UPRIGHT MEMBER, A CARRYING MEMBER, A PIVOT MEANS CONNECTING ONE END OF SAID CARRYING MEMBER TO THE UPPER END OF SAID UPRIGHT MEMBER, THE OTHER END OF SAID CARRYING MEMBER BEING FREE OF SAID BASE, A SECOND LAMP MOUNTED TO THE FREE END OF SAID CARRYING MEMBER, AND A LATCH PIVOTALLY MOUNTED TO ONE OF SAID MEMBERS, SAID LATCH INCLUDING A LUG PROJECTING 